Presidential hopeful and African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma has erected a security wall around himself, saying he fears he could be assassinated ahead of the ANC conference in December.

However well grounded, the cloak and dagger claims highlight the growing climate of fear and distrust that has infected South Africa’s political scene.

Members of Zuma’s inner circle say two teams from the South African Police crime intelligence were dispatched to KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year to investigate claims that a R1-million price tag had been placed on Zuma’s head, and that a number of Zuma supporters have been interviewed or have submitted affidavits to them.

The Mail & Guardian was unable to confirm the claims of a formal police investigation this week. The matter was raised with Superintendent Tumi Golding of the South African Police Services crime intelligence division and a set of questions was forwarded to her. No response had been received at the time of going to print.

Zuma and his close associates have not specified who they believe is behind the alleged plot -- his political enemies or people outside politics who harbour fears about a possible Zuma presidency.

The M&G has learned from sources close to Zuma that the former deputy president believes there are several assassination plots afoot, including the one currently being investigated by crime intelligence.

However, Zuma associates who say they were interviewed by police investigators expressed disappointment that the matter was not being treated with the “sensitivity and urgency” it deserved.

The investigators are allegedly probing the role of a trained sniper and former member of the South African National Defence Force’s 32 Battalion, who was allegedly hired to assassinate Zuma while he was addressing a crowd in Durban.

Affidavits submitted to crime intelligence by Zuma supporters, which have been seen by the M&G, say the mission was discussed with the alleged assassin in 2004.

One of the affidavits states that “during the year 2004, after he [the sniper] had left the army [in 2000], he was approached by a certain white male person ... [who] said he [the sniper] was required to perform a certain duty for the country.

“It transpired that the so-called duty was to assassinate Mr J Zuma. He was advised that the weapon was going to be supplied by [here a codename is supplied],” the affidavit said.

The affidavit claims the sniper, whose name is known to the M&G, says that he was promised a R1-million reward after completing the operation. It is alleged that his handler was to provide the rifle to be used in the assassination, which would be mounted on the roof of a building within range of the Zuma rally.

The sniper allegedly confessed to senior Zuma supporters that “he went to the building on the arranged date and time and found the sniper’s rifle as per arrangement”. He aborted the mission when Zuma “did not arrive as arranged”.

Members of Zuma’s immediate circle and intelligence operatives interviewed by the M&G said they believe that the “unaccomplished” operation could still be carried out. In the affidavit, the sniper is quoted as saying he has not heard from his handler since the operation was compromised, and that he feared for his life after noticing that he was being followed.

According to the Zuma camp, the investigators have information suggesting that the sniper may have been fed untruths about Zuma to convince him that the assassination was in South Africa’s interests.

Zuma’s lifelong friend, Elias Khumalo, was shocked and angry when the M&G contacted him about the affidavits, which have been leaked to a range of newspapers.

He did, however, confirm that he had submitted a sworn affidavit to two teams from crime intelligence revealing details of a private meeting he had held with the sniper after the operation was aborted.

He confirmed that a team led by a Captain Van Vuuren was dispatched to KwaZulu-Natal in February to investigate the matter in February, and that another team led by a Captain Madondo was also involved in the probe. The M&G has been unable to establish the full names of these officers.

“I am very disappointed that this matter of national security has found its way into the hands of the media. It is very clear that the affidavits should only be known to the relevant security operatives and were deliberately leaked.

“I also find it a bit odd that crime intelligence seems to have two teams running parallel investigations on this matter,” said Khumalo.

Other sources said the leaks pointed to divisions in the intelligence community over the succession battle in the ANC, with some spies loyal to Zuma and others to President Thabo Mbeki.

A source close to the purported Zuma plot investigation said it would appear that the details of the plot were leaked to the media so that the sniper would run for cover and the investigation would be closed.

“Other people suggest one team genuinely wants to capture the sniper and his handlers, while the other one appears determined to compromise the investigation,” the source said.

The divided allegiances of intelligence operatives were a key factor in the hoax emails saga and the breakdown of trust between Mbeki and National Intelligence Agency boss Billy Masethla, who was suspended and fired last year.

With acknowledgements to Zukile Majova and Mail and Guardian.